It only took a day for Rejesh to call Ntando.
“Hello,” Ntando answered his cellphone.
“Hey there handsome,” came the voice on the other end.
“Who the hell are you?” Ntando didn’t recognise the voice.
“Calm down dear it’s me Rejesh, your interview is tomorrow at one o’clock, oh! I can’t wait to see you dear. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you,” flirted Rajesh and Ntando laughed.
“Oh sorry about the way I answered, it’s just that I hate private number calls. You are lucky I answered. Thanks for letting me know.” Ntando spoke in a polite voice that charmed Rejesh even more.
“No sweat dear, see you tomorrow, mwaaaaahhhhhh,” Ntando laughed again.
“See you.” Ntando said as he hung up.
Ntando had nothing to worry about; he was liked, loved by the sales manager. It was almost as if tomorrow was too far for Ntando, but it came very fast. Indeed Ntando went to Virgin Active an hour before his interview. He was hoping that at the reception he would find Mbali. When he walked in at the reception he saw a guy he did not know. He went straight to him. The guy greeted him with a smile.
“Hello,” the reception greeted. His name tag read ‘Ernest’.
“Hi, where is Mbali?” Ntando asked.
“Mbali resigened,” Ernest said still with a smile on his face.
Mbali resigned, oh God I’m going to fail this interview, Ntando thought to himself.
“Do you have any idea why she resigned?” Ntando asked after a little while.
“She got another job in England, her sister works there.” Ernest replied and Ntando kept quiet.
England? I’ll never see Mbali again! I am leaving, I’m not doing this interview I’m not going to pass it anyway, and I’m hurt. I’m going home. I hate life, I hate it. Ntando thought to himself.
“Okay thank you,” Ntando said to Ernest and turned away, very sad. Ernest laughed as Ntando was walking out.
“Broer, I’m joking. Come back. Mbali is on break she should be here any minute now,” Ernest said. Ntando turned and stood for a while just staring at Ernest. After a while Ntando walked back to the reception desk.
“So you were just going to give up on your interview?” Ernest asked Ntando.
Ntando took a deep breath. He wanted to talk but the words wouldn’t come out.
“You must really love this girl,” Ernest said.
“How do you know I came here for an interview, you were not here the last time I was here,” Ntando asked Ernest.
“Oh Mbali talks about you all the time, especially with me,” said Ernest.
“Really she does?” Ntando asked, trying not to blush.
“Yes, dude that chick loves you a lot, your name is always on her lips.”
“Does she also say that she loves me?”
“She doesn’t have to say it, it’s obvious bra,”
“I see, so how do you know it’s me she always talks about? It could be just another guy.”
“She even described you; I did have a picture of you in my mind. Small eyes, super black afro that she calls beautiful, a little gap between your teeth…” Ernest was still going on when Ntando interrupted.
“Stop broer, I get it, I get it.” Ntando said and they both laughed. There were just very few members walking in. Mbali came from the staff room, Ntando saw her. As soon as she walked in reception Ernest said he is going to the toilet and he left.
***
Tell us what you think: Is Mbali in love with Ntando after all? Will Ntando be forced to choose between his mother and Mbali?